Hillingdon's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.
The population passed quarter of a million
In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Hillingdon increased by 13%, from about 243,000 to 274,000.
The addition of almost 31,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).
In 2011, Hillingdon was home to, on average, 17 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it London's third-least densely-populated borough.
Population density was lower than the average across London
Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)
- Rest of London
- Hillingdon
- Average across England
More homes with adult children living with their parents
This area saw London's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.
Across the region, only Harrow saw a greater rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 12% to 14%).
During this period, Hillingdon overtook Brent, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham to become the London local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.
In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households in Hillingdon had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 10% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 32% to 36%.
The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across London
Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011
- Rest of London
- Hillingdon
- Average across England
Religion in Hillingdon
The number of people in Hillingdon that described themselves as Christian increased from just under 160,000 in 2001 to about 130,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 64% to 49% of the local population.
The percentage decreased by more than the average across London (from 58% to 48%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).
The number of people in Hillingdon that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 32,000 in 2001 to just over 46,000 in 2011 (from 13% to 17%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from just over 11,000 to about 29,000 (from 4.6% to 11%).
About 22,000 people (4.6%) said they were Hindu, up from about 11,000 in 2001 (8.0%).
There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.
The population who identified as Christian in Hillingdon decreased by 15 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Hillingdon by religion, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Ethnicity in Hillingdon
The number of people in Hillingdon from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 190,000 in 2001 to just under 170,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 79% to 61% of the local population.
The percentage decreased by more than the average across London (from 71% to 60%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).
The number of people in Hillingdon from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 35,000 in 2001 to just over 69,000 in 2011 (from 14% to 25%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 8,000 to just over 20,000 (from 3.3% to 7.3%).
Just over 10,000 people (2.3%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 5,600 in 2001 (3.8%).
There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.
The population from the White ethnic groups in Hillingdon decreased by 18 percentage points
Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Hillingdon by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Rise in private renting
The percentage of households in Hillingdon that rented privately increased from 9.6% to 18% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.
In 2011, just over one in six (17%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of Hillingdon households that owner their home decreased from 71% to 63%.
The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 15% in 2001 to 25% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.
Private renting in Hillingdon increased by 8.5 percentage points
Percentage of households in Hillingdon, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011
- 2001
- 2011
Fewer people living alone
The percentage of single-person households fell in Hillingdon at a faster rate than in nearby Spelthorne.
In Hillingdon, the proportion of single-person households decreased from 29% in 2001 to 25% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in Spelthorne decreased from 30% to 28%.
Across London, the share of single-person households decreased from 35% to 32%.
The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Hillingdon remained close to 7.9%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 37% to 36%.
The percentage of households with only a single-person was lower than across London
Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011
- Rest of London
- Hillingdon
- Average across England
Area report data
Dataset one title
Dataset | 31 January 2022
This is a description of the dataset.
Dataset two title
Dataset | 16 January 2022
This is a description of the dataset.
Related links
Article one title
Article | 31 January 2022
This is a description of the article.
Article two title
Article | 16 January 2022
This is a description of the article.